Karaoke Forums

Here's the info for Tampa Bay, FL:

I make $175 a night  two nights of the week (Wednesday and Saturday) for 5 hours work each night ($35/hr.) and am the 2nd highest paid KJ that I am aware of. The highest paid guy works at one of the bars that does karaoke 7 nights a week, and he makes $1200 for the week.

I do karaoke for extra spending $$$ as I do have a good day job. Around here, one could technically make a living off karoake, but I would think it would be about the same standard of living as your typical waiter/waitress or retail worker UNLESS you somehow worked 7 nights a week or were a multi-rig owner with a bunch of peeps working for you.

For me, my regular job pays the mortgage and all of my bills and the karaoke cash is my spending money for everything else I may want, which is about all I would count on it for.

If you were to rely on karaoke to make a living, at least in my situation, I think life would be quite tough.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Around here...NJ  The going rate for a 4hour "bar gig" is around $125- $150 per night.I' just started back at a steady Saturday gig making $125.  I quit this gig for the summer cause I was offered a another steady gig making $150 a night for 2 nights a week. UNFORTUNATELY the owners of that place did not live up to their agreement and started to cancel days here and there so I told them to TAKE A HIKE.

The current venue has another DJ in their 4 days a week and they work for $125 for 4 hrs ..So thats all they will pay for the weekend.  Its fair to say that this place is a smaller " local" beer and shot joint.  They do serve food but mainly its just a local watering hole.  I would like to find a steadyt gig at one of  the more LARGER UPSCALE clubs.  There I'm sure the pay is around $250 per night .

My fulltime occupation is a fire chief.  But I KJ 3 nights a week.  Monday, Wed, & Sat.  All at the same place.  I charge $150 for 4 hour show.  Will go an extra hour over for $50.  If I KJ anywhere else it's $200.  I give the place I am at a discount because they do 3 shows a week.  Also I will be starting my 5th year there in Jan.

Private parties are $300 for a 4hour show.  It's $300 whether 1 hour or 4.  Don't ever agree to a price per night unless it's what you want.  MOST places won't agree to a higher price down the line.  IF you do agree to say, play a month or a week at a reduced price and then expect a higher rate later; put it in writing or at least when the time comes and they don't want to pay the extra, WALK!  If your good and they care anything about their bottom line, they'll call you back.

Kelly

They don't is the short answer. What's crazy is that even with that discrapancy, the houses are selling like hot cakes. I had a friend who tried to move from one side to the other side of the bay. He bid 3 houses and lost, one of them was overbid by 30% more than he bid. It's crazy around here. Only a small percentage can afford the houses and it almost requires two income to make it, thus about $150,000 in income for household.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

There are "KJ's" here that will work a 6 hour night for 50 bucks...9PM till 3AM.

They have ruined the karaoke business in this town with their crappy sounding systems and 500 song collections....Their 50 buck fee keeps them busy and keeps the better rigs like mine at home.

I would not consider transporting my rig across the street for even a hour for less than 200 bucks.....Besides, I already make 65K in my day job and also another 18K in Navy retirement....The low ball jacklegs have absolutely ruined karaoke here....so we just party at my house where my rig remains setup in my gameroom.

Private parties I charge $250min for 3hrs, then $50 per hr thereafter
Unless there are special setup requirements or needs.

Weddings $375 - $650 depending on needs and location


Up until a couple of years ago I was charging bar rates for private parties. I found that once I started charging more $ for these parties, my bookings began to increase accoringly. If I would have known this from the beginning I would have charged more a long time ago.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I get $150 for four hours Sun-Wed, $275 for four hours Thurs-Sat.  

I run 4-5 shows a week, and consider this my job.  My day job consists of chasing shows, writing contracts and all the other little things that go with this.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

My opinion...how long can you do karaoke?  How old can you be and still attract people...not sure...I wouldn't rely on it...to me, it is a fun, part-time job/hobby.  I get no benefits through it...no health care or 401K.  If you can make a living at it, great.  I would think only multi-ops could do that...but if you do it yourself, you are relying on the fact that down the road, you can still hack the bar scene and attract a crowd...who knows how long karaoke will be popular...

I've been doing it since 1991, 11 years at the same place.  I know some very good kj's that are well into their 60's that are packing the clubs with kids.   I also know of a few that have retired from their regular job & made karaoke their full time job after retirement.
A 1 op CAN make a living at this provided the hobbiests & undercutters don't take jobs away from those who NEED this to make a living at!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Now THIS is a real interesting subject. Isn't it amazing how the DJ/KJ "pay for play" differs from region to region? Around here (Boston), the average scale is $125-$150 for a 4hr gig (weekdays). Weekends would be $50-$75 more per night (KJ only). DJ's on the other hand tend to get more, especially in the clubs around B.U/B.C. I can remember my first gig at Houlihan's, Fanuel Hall, 1977 I think. $50....and the manager thought THAT was high. After 3 years doing the club circuit, I went into stricly PP. Weekends and holidays were very $$$rewarding$$$! But a new day job demanded more of my time so I had to "give up the ghost" and put DJing on hold for a number of years. Then a friend of mine from the "old" dj days told me what he was getting for PP (1997) $400 minimum for 1-4 hrs, $100 each additional hr. So, on that note I started DJing again and the last 4 years, stricly KJ. $175 4hr show, food and drink on them. That's weekday.....I save the weekends for myself and the wife.
Plus, I don't think age is a factor unless you let it become one. I'll be 56 in about 2 months and I still enjoy interacting with "the kids" and evidently, judging from the turnout at my shows, the feeling is mutual. Plus being an "old guy" I must remind some of them of their fathers( is that a good thing?) I still DJ PP for friends at a cut rate (that's what friends are for) But ...NO...I personally wouldn't do this as a sole source for income. No paid vacation, holidays, health care,etc.,etc. SHEESH, I must have too much time on my hands.......enough ramblin'


                                       Donny "B"

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It's a wonderful life!!

I don't make enough to live off of, but I make a good supplemental income.  I charge 150 for the first four hours as a base charge.  Even if the show only lasts an hour, I still charge the base 150.  After four hours, I charge 50 for each additional hour.  If I could get shows daily I could live off of it, but right now I only work maybe a single show every couple months.

Glad to hear the comments on the "age thing."  I'll be hitting 50 next month and hope to continue for awhile.  I'm hoping to retire from my chief's position at 60 and maybe continue supplementing with karaoke for a while longer.  Mean time trying to divert my "karaoke monies" to Ameritrade!

Kelly

...nothing wrong with having a hobby...no law against it that I know of...

i use to make $125 a night for a 4 hour show, but i used the bar owner's system (which was a POS) and i had to drive about 45 minutes to get there.  still the money was decent and my singers were a hoot!  alas he sold the place.  now i run a show about a mile away from the house from 8-midnight for $150 with my equipment.  i like doing it sooo much that i usually stay until 1 or even 1:30 even though it doens't pay anymore if i stay late.  i do it because it's fun.

2nd income here...


Age?????   Nawwwww.. doesn't matter ... we are 48 & 58 and pack the places with college aged singers!!  It's how ya treat 'em .... not whether ya have gray hair or no hair .. .

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  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

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You do it in the shower,
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Karaoke with Full House Entertainment

[scroll]Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean...... [/scroll]

We're not making a living off of KJ'ing but because of some problems last month with my daytime job I made a quick decision and quit a job of seven years. What allowed me the opportunity to do so was knowing that KJ'ing may not support us as a full time job it did take care of us while I was looking for a new job.

Up here in Western NY I get between 150-200 per night, dep. on what night. For DJ work the scale goes up to 75/hour with a 5 hour minimum. Have often thought about age, I am not getting any younger, but enjoying the ride for now so why worry? Part time is all I could see ever doing, I am too worried about hiring other KJ's that would be horrible, even with great training. Damage my reputation even if I am not there.

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I'm going off the rails......

Up here in Western NY I get between 150-200 per night, dep. on what night. For DJ work the scale goes up to 75/hour with a 5 hour minimum. Have often thought about age, I am not getting any younger, but enjoying the ride for now so why worry? Part time is all I could see ever doing, I am too worried about hiring other KJ's that would be horrible, even with great training. Damage my reputation even if I am not there.

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I'm going off the rails......

Other factors: Do you work for cash
                    Do you leave your equipment on sight (no tear down)
                    Is it a short or long commute

I am stationary and live less than a mile away

I work the same venue 3 nights a week.

Fridays    5 hours $200
Saturdays   5 hours $150
Wednesdays   4 hours $100

sat. is less than Fiday - I don't know why - The KJ before me worked that way and I was eased in and never renegotiated

I feel so much better hearing what everyone is making - I'm in the ball park
A lot of KJs in my area are getting $75 - $100 an hour.
(Chicago suburb) and they work a 2-3 man crew. I was feeling a bit under paid working by myself

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